Camplify Uncovered: South West WA wine region adventure

If you're after fresh air, beautiful beaches and a glass of wine to go with it, then this trip is right up your alley. Jake and David went on a weekend getaway to the South West of WA in 'The Ningaloo' to explore it's famous wine region, Margaret River. Read on to see what they got up to!

The van - 'The Ningaloo'

For this trip, we teamed up with the guys at See West Campers to hire out their infamous Renault, 'The Ningaloo'! While we were a little anxious about driving a larger vehicle at first, after going through the handover process with the van owner, Allan, we felt pretty confident about taking her away! Allan ran through everything with us, from how to use the kitchen to how to pull out the rear camp setup.

This converted Renault had power and control, it felt like driving a normal car with a long boot. With a selection of buttons to push and knobs to turn, I was comfortable operating this absolute dream camper whilst David sat in the passenger seat playing acoustic versions of everything but Wonderwall (phew).

The route we took:

Stop 1: Black Diamond Lake

An easy 2.5hr drive from Perth, took us to Black Diamond Lake for lunch. Rich blue water caused by the limestone (thanks internet) and a low pH makes this disused mining lake a must-see for a great photo.

Want to trick your mates into thinking you’re exploring Canada in your camper? Drive a bit out of Perth and check this place out!

See: Explore the many hidden spots around the lake, there are some nice little nooks. Some of the lake is private property so please keep to the public areas.

Tip: Black Diamond is a great picnic stop but there are no facilities so BYO toilet or make a quick stop on your way out.

Stop 2: Gnomesville

That’s right, it’s a “donsy” of Gnomes. Childhood memories recall a small village of gnomes that people left on the side of the road but in 2021 it appears they have been busy growing their miniature colony. All types of gnomes with messages and puns dating back years cover the now popular rest stop. Taking the usual coastal route to the WA wine region means that many tourists and even locals bypass this little hidden gem but it’s well worth the detour.

See: Gnomes! Literally thousands doing all kinds of funny things. Tip: Bring a gnome. Leave a gnome.

Stop 3: Augusta

This was the best accident I’ve ever made on a trip. We had planned to stay at a free campsite as our See West camper was self-sufficient. Fitted with a toilet, power points and a fully functional kitchen including a sink and BBQ, we knew we were living the good camp life. We went to grab some fuel and as we rolled into Augusta, we were struck by how amazing the view was. The river meets the ocean and after a quick supermarket stop, we decided to change our first night plans and have a crack at the local caravan park on the water’s edge. We called the park 10 minutes before closing time and after some classic banter with the receptionist, we rolled on in with 3 minutes to close. Two blokes, changing their plans on the first night of the trip...we absolutely lucked out. Snagging one of the last powered sites we were placed on the corner of the park, next to the water...in the middle of school holidays.

Setting up this absolute rig of a van during an epic sunset got us so excited and we spent our first night cooking dinner on the BBQ overlooking the calm inlet whilst I gave David a free lesson on how to play Monopoly.

See: Walk the coastline up to the ocean and check out the incredible views. Sunrise is worth getting up for.

Tip: Take a stand-up paddleboard to experience the amazing scenery in Augusta. A local business leaves kayaks and a secure box to deposit some cash so you can enjoy the water. This gave us a great vibe of how safe this place truly is.

Stop 4: Cosy Corner Beach, Hamelin Bay

After an amazing sunrise and some brekky on the camp bbq, we headed out for the day. Taking the scenic route to Hamelin Bay, David and I were all set to go check out the stingrays’ and grab a few snaps. Well...so was everyone else. Being school holidays, this pristine beach where stingrays’ come to your feet was inundated with people who like us, wanted to experience the close encounter. 10 minutes away and a random turnoff into an unplanned road presented us with an empty car park. Absolutely stoked, we got out and explored Cosy Corner before heading back to the van for a celebratory snack overlooking a perfect beach. The clear blue waters on a white sandy beach synonymous with the WA coastline gave us an amazing backdrop for long lunch and a few photos.

See: Hamelin Bay has some incredible walks and wildlife encounters. Drive the Caves Road tourist drive to explore some less popular beaches nearby for your own beach day.

Tip: Check to make sure the camper you hire allows you to travel on red dirt and unsealed roads before planning your trip. Drive them slowly as the centre of gravity and traction of your vehicle will differ from your regular car so take your time and turn up the tunes.

Stop 5: Jarvis Estate, Bramley

Being peak travel time in the South West of WA, I didn’t like our chances just spending some downtime surrounded by absolutely nobody... But I was wrong. We managed to snag a spot amongst the vines on Jarvis Estate located only 8 minutes from the Margaret River main strip. This winery not only produces great wines (and include a tasting on arrival) but they hire out camp spots around the property.

The green grass and vineyard with an awesome sunset saw us set up in style for the night surrounded by nothing but future beverages (grapes). We pulled out the entire kitchen, camp chairs, BBQ, and the swag (included with the van) before making some dinner. This amazing van features a Skydeck and so we headed up the ladder for some sunset dinner and drinks before the sky lit up with stars.

Stop 6: Margaret River

After a late-night observing the stars, we headed to Prevelly Beach car park where we pulled out the picnic table, plugged into the van's power and I got stuck into editing whilst David went for a surf. A regular spot on the World Surf League, Maragaret River did not disappoint. The waves we going off and it was the perfect way to end the trip.

That night, we headed to a friend's property where we set up an impromptu stage! There are loads of properties just like this one all around Margaret River, with many letting you camp overnight!

See: Gnarabup Beach - this is a perfect beach to visit for families! There is a little jetty and pontoon visitors can fish, swim and even jump off!

Visit : Margaret River Distillery - Tucked away amongst the native Peppermint trees, Margaret River Distilling Company is based in the heart of Margaret River just a short stroll from the centre of town. Enjoy a delicious meal and a tasting flight of premium spirits, or one of their scrumptious cocktails.

Camplify Experience

The excitement of looking through a website and connecting with genuine people who are hiring out their well-loved creations makes the Camplify experience that much more personable. Meeting the van owners gives you a real insight into the hard work and pride they have built into their vehicles. 'The Ningaloo' by See West Camperwas an incredible van. A self-sufficient van fitted with everything you need and additional thoughtful touches such as a Bluetooth speaker, Webber BBQ, eco-friendly cleaning products and even a Skydeck made our experience that much better. It’s always a little nerve-racking taking someone else’s vehicle on holiday but the enjoyment of this experience has revolutionised the way I look at holiday options. I can’t wait to take more campers and trailers away to see what other owners have built into these incredible homes.

Camplify is a truly easy way to take your partner, mates or family on a camping trip without the hassle of days of packing and sourcing equipment. Just grab your clothes, toiletries and snorkel before jumping in a van and enjoying your holiday.

Follow more of Jake's adventureshere.

Ready to get started?

If reading Jake's blog has made you excited to see South WA, why not book The Ningaloo and experience it all yourself!